Page 16 of Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady
Adelaide sighed. “You are not here to discuss my romantic entanglements. You are here with the sole purpose of discussing Miss Green. If I hear a word about the Duke, I shall send you away without a smidgen of assistance.”
Truthfully, she did not know if she could mention Reuben without bursting into tears. Her mind was in chaos over him. Whilst she felt a vague attraction towards the Duke, her heart was not attached to him. However, the thought of him breaking off the engagement was almost more than she could bear. He symbolized safety. More than that, he presented the one place where she might belong. If he dispensed with her now, she was not certain her pride would ever recover.
Jasper grumbled playfully. “Very well, then I shall not stray into any such subject.”
“Good, now begin…”
“She and I danced one dance, as you saw. The conversation was rather wonderful, and there appeared to be a perpetual smile upon her face,” he explained. His gaze remained fixed on the wall opposite, as though reliving each moment. “I attempted humor and she laughed accordingly. There was a delightful sweetness about her that I found utterly charming.”
“That does not sound like doom and gloom to me,” Adelaide quipped. “Unless she was thoroughly disheartened by your sense of humor. Who could blame the poor girl in such an instance?”
Jasper shot her a look. “This is not the time for jests, Adelaide.”
She chuckled. “I could not help myself, Jasper. Please, go on. I shall refrain from making further quips at your expense.”
“Thank you.” He cleared his throat and continued, “During our dance with one another, the conversation turned towards your engagement. Naturally, I told her of my disapproval. Before I could say another word, she fell into this desolate silence that I could not penetrate. She would not speak to me, and when the music came to an end she broke away and did not return.”
“And what, pray tell, did you do?”
“Why, I left.”
Adelaide tutted. “I am aware of what you did, Jasper. Miss Green was most discouraged by your abandonment.”
“I did not abandon her,” he spluttered.
“You must never walk away from a lady whose affections you wish to cultivate… never. It shows a lack of feeling. The sight of your retreat gives a lady the impression that you no longer care—you no longer give your concern to her wellbeing.”
“But that could not be further from the truth!”
Adelaide flashed him a grin. “Complex female behavior. It is no easy thing to comprehend, my dear.”
“But you believe she cares for me?”
“I believe you are in the fledgling throes of a potential courtship, yes. Providing you do not make another mistake, of course. To do that may jeopardize the entire enterprise.”
His expression brightened instantly. “How may I remedy my error?”
“Be patient and strive for reparation without haste.”
“A letter, perhaps?”
Adelaide tilted her head from side to side. “A letter is always a pleasant thing, but that can come later. First, I think you must allow me to make amends for you. I can repair the initial wounds you have inflicted. Once the path is clear, you can send the most beautiful love note ever written by man’s fair hand.”
Jasper smiled. “You would do that for me?”
“I suppose I must, for you would make an enormous mess of it if you were to be left to your own devices,” she replied, her tone teasing. “As luck would have it, she is due to visit this afternoon—I believe she has misplaced a shawl and believes it to be here. So, I will accost her with your profound apologies then, and gauge her response. As soon as we have spoken, I will send word to you.”
Jasper looked relieved. “I am so terribly sorry that I strode in here the way I did. Truly, it was purely my exasperation getting the better of me.”
“You are quite forgiven, Jasper.”
“Even so, I should not have spoken to you like that. It was most ungentlemanly.”
“You are often ungentlemanly towards me, Jasper, so I have grown used to it. I suppose I must accept that behavior when I am such a peculiar fish,” she remarked. “Nevertheless, there is no harm done. There is one thing I wish to say to you, however.”
“Go on…”
“I would like you to know that, despite our differences, I am as protective of you as you are of me. I do long for your happiness, regardless of appearances,” she explained tentatively. “I know we do not always see things in the same light, and we are often at playful conflict with one another, but that does not alter my friendly affections towards you. I should delight in seeing you joyfully matched.”
